COVID-19 Wards Research Articles

Maximizing Result of Bedsore Prevention in Mechanical Ventilated Patient

Objectives: According to the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG), there are several preventive interventions for Pressure ulcers, including a thorough initial examination during admission to identify risk factors, education about PUs, repositioning, and nutritional support. Hydrocolloid dressings have been used to prevent bed sores in several places, although there has not been much research. The study sought to determine the relationship between hydrocolloid dressing and the prevention of bedsores among ventilated patients. Method: an observational retrospective study that included patients on mechanical ventilators. Participants were selected from the covid ward in the Ibri hospital population. Pretest and post-test investigations were done using conventional or conventional care with preventive hydrocolloid dressing. Information was obtained from staff recordings and assessments in AlShifa 3 plus program. Result: Seventy-four patients were included in the study. Forty patients were included in the pretest, using conventional care only, and 34 patients were included in the post-test, using conventional treatment and hydrocolloid dressing. A decrease in the number of occurrences of bedsores from 22 (55%) at the pretest to 5 (15%) at the post-test. Most bedsore stage occurs in the post-test was stage one (4 out of 34) and was mainly related to patients with comorbidities. Conclusion: The study findings reveal a significant difference between the post-test and PUS variable of using CC+HD (p-value - 0.000<0.05), reducing harm to the patients. It is necessary to promote trials that lead to comparing different preventive measures

Nurses' perception of work and life under COVID-19 pandemic conditions: a qualitative study.

Although nurses work and live in special and stressful conditions due to the nature of their profession, in periods of crises and pandemics, when the work pressure on nurses and the public's need for professional services increases to extraordinary and incomparable levels compared to customary conditions, their work and life situation becomes entirely different. Therefore, what nurses experienced in the COVID-19 pandemic went beyond the typical challenges of their work environment. This study was conducted to discover nurses' perceptions of work and life during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was conducted with a conventional content analysis approach on 16 nurses working in the inpatient wards during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Data were collected through unstructured, individual, and in-depth interviews between August 2020 and June 2023 and were analyzed using content analysis with the conventional (inductive) approach of Granheim and Lundman. Data analysis led to the extraction of 11 subcategories, namely, "feeling a lack of support and understanding from managers," "team cooperation and communication challenges in difficult work conditions," "shadow of burnout," "shortage inequity," "dissatisfaction with unfair wages and benefits," "not having their work and sacrifices appreciated," "suffering and fatigue of using personal protective equipment (PPE)," "deprivation of entertainment and rest," "fear of illness and imminent death," "low resilience," and "deteriorating life conditions" These 11 subcategories led to the following themes: "unsafe work environment" and "the shadow of suffering and death." Nurses working in COVID-19 wards in Iran worked in an unsafe work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to deal with suffering and fear of death. It is necessary to pay attention to the needs and problems of nurses, and healthcare organizations must provide the required support to maintain the physical and mental health of nurses during epidemics.

Assessment of Mental Workload Nurses in COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: Nurses are at the front line of treatment and coping with COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study investigates the pandemic’s impact on nurses ’mental workload and determines its predictive factors.
 Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 234 nurses in two groups working at COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards in 2020. The criteria for entering the study were the absence of psychological problems. Data was gathered using the General Health Questionnaire, NASA-TLX, and Demographic Questionnaire.
 Results: The mean of the overall mental workload score in the group of nurses working at the Covid-19 wards (70.09 ± 2.51) was higher than the group of nurses working in the non-COVID-19 wards (66.55 ± 2.02). This difference was significant (P = 0.01). There was a significant difference between the mean score of the mental demand, the physical demand, the temporal demand, and the frustration level of the two groups. With the exception of performance, the group of nurses working in the corona ward had a higher mean score in all aspects. In the proposed linear model, 16% of the overall changes in mental workload depended on two variables, which were age and work experience. The work experience was the most influential factor in predicting nurses' mental workload.
 Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed the importance of paying attention to the mental workload of nurses as well as personal and occupational factors affecting mental workload in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, control and management of effective factors can help reduce mental workload, especially during pandemic conditions.

COVID-19 Pneumonia and Increased Insulin Requirement in Known Diabetic Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background COVID-19-related critical illness affects multiple organs and causes a variety of metabolic derangements in the body's physiology that are not proven with the current level of evidence. Insulin resistance and deranged blood sugar control due to COVID-19 have been major problems when managing diabetic patients with hyperglycaemia when they are admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia. There is a lack of abundant literature to prove the excess insulin requirements of COVID-19 and to quantify their insulin needs scientifically. This study aims to quantify the degree of insulin dose increments in these patients. Materials and methods The study is a single-centre prospective observational study done in COVID-19 wards at a tertiary care hospital in India. The diabetic patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia between June 2020 and December 2020 were included in the study. Seventy-five patients with fair control of diabetes (HbA1C <7.5) were included in the study. Their average daily insulin requirement was calculated for the first seven days of admission. This was tabulated and compared to their baseline insulin requirement before being unwell due to COVID-19. A sub-group analysis was also done to show the relation between severity of illness and glycaemic dysregulation. Result Invariably, all patients were found to be hyperglycaemic on admission. Insulin need has increased to 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline values in the first 24 hours of admission. This insulin dose requirement stayed high around the same levels for all seven days of observation. The average mean value of the daily insulin dose for the seven days of study was calculated to be 132 units. This is more than twice the mean baseline daily insulin requirement of 62 units during the pre-COVID-19 period. Subgroup analysis showed that the severe group had poor glycaemic control, requiring higher doses compared to their own baseline and also to the moderate group. Conclusion COVID-19 pneumonia significantly increases insulin resistance and insulin requirements during illness in fairly controlled known diabetic patients with insulin. Managing this COVID-19-induced hyperglycaemia requires 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline insulin doses.

The risk of COVID-19 infection among nurses working with COVID-19 patients.

Working with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients is currently considered one of the main fears and challenges that face healthcare workers (HCWs), especially nurses. This challenge can jeopardize the quality of health care services for those patients and cause a serious mental burden to HCWs. To understand and estimate the risk of COVID-19 infection among HCWs who directly serve COVID-19 patients. Before the community spread of the disease, 270 nurses who worked with COVID-19 wards were followed for 11 weeks to report the COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, during the community spread of the disease, 981 registered nurses (300 worked in COVID-19 wards and 681 worked in non-COVID wards) were followed for up to 16 weeks to report the COVID-19 cases. Before the community spread of COVID-19, none of the nurses who worked with the COVID-19 patients got the infection. On the other hand, during the community spread of the COVID-19 infection, 30% of the 300 nurses who worked in the COVID-19 wards got the COVID-19 infection, while 64% of the 681 HCWs who worked in the non-COVID wards got the infection. The relative risk of getting COVID-19 infection among HCWs who worked in the COVID-19 wards was reduced to about half in comparison to other HCWs who worked in the non-COVID wards (RR = 0.469). HCWs should not fear working with COVID-19 patients. Considering appropriate personal protective measures and infection control standards, the risk of infection transmission from the community is higher than that of COVID-19 patients, if any.

Cross-Sectional Study of the Psychological Well-Being of Healthcare Workers in a Large European University Hospital after the COVID-19 Initial Wave.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic greatly impacted healthcare workers (HCWs) dedicated to caring for COVID-19 patients. The study was conducted in a large European hospital to study the psychological distress of HCWs engaged in COVID-19 wards in the early phase of the pandemic. A questionnaire was sent to 1229 HCWs aimed at collecting the following information: 1) sociodemographic data; 2) depression, anxiety, and stress scales (DASS-21); 3) event impact scale (IES-R); 4) perceived stress scale (PSS); and 5) work interface analysis. The responses were collected through Google® forms and then statistically analyzed. Regardless of the outcome of the questionnaire, all subjects were offered psychological support voluntarily. Approximately two-thirds of the workers reported no symptoms according to the DASS-21 scales, while the IES-R and PSS scales showed 36% and 43%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of depression investigated through the different scales in the various occupational categories. Symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression were more pronounced in women, while the highest stress levels were observed in the younger age groups. The highest scores were observed on the DAS-21 scales of anxiety and IES-R but not on the others. Only 51 workers, most of them with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, sought clinical psychological counseling, and more than half received subsequent psychological support. Our results agree with most of the literature data that anxiety, depression, and stress are associated with gender (female), age (18-44 vs. over 55), and having cared for patients with COVID-19.

Emotional Changes in Hospitalized Patients in the COVID-19 Ward: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Theory as an Analytical Framework

Aim: This study was conducted to determine emotional changes in hospitalized patients in the COVID-19 ward based on the Kubler-Ross theory. Background: Humans exhibit different behaviors in response to crises. COVID-19, as a health crisis, was accompanied by widespread changes in the behavior of patients. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2021 using a census method on 139 hospitalized patients in the COVID-19 ward of the 22 Bahman Hospital in Khorramshahr, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire to determine the stages of change in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software and one-sample t-test, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test, and Pearson correlation coefficient at a significant level of 0.05. Results: The minimum age was 27 and the maximum age was 67 years. The levels of denial were moderate, while anger and bargaining were lower than average, and depression and acceptance were higher than average. The average denial, anger, and depression scores in male patients were significantly higher than those in female patients (p &lt; 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between denial and anger scores and age (p &lt; 0.001) and a significant positive correlation between acceptance and age (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Since contracting COVID-19 and hospitalization in COVID-19 wards are associated with various behavioral changes, screening patients for behavioral changes is recommended to health policymakers and managers. Understanding these changes can help accurately diagnose and effectively treat these patients.

Cross Sectional study to evaluate Psychosocial impact of Covid 19 among medical students of BMCTH

Introduction: COVID-19, a profoundly contagious viral disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has had a devastating impact globally, leading to over 6 million fatalities worldwide. Covid 19 caused isolation, anxiety, grief, economic stress, and disrupted routines, leading to mental struggles, strained relationships, and increased demand for mental health services globally.&#x0D; Objectives: The objectives of this study were to find out psychosocial impact of covid 19 among medical students of BMCTH and to assess the factors associated with psychosocial impact of covid 19.&#x0D; Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among all medical students of Birat medical college teaching hospital from August, 2022 to January 2023. Data was collected from 258 eligible participants using GHQ12 questionnaire. Chi-square test was applied for assessing association between dependent and independent variables and binary logistic regression analysis was used to find the determinants.&#x0D; Results: Present study was conducted among 258 medical students. Among them 43.0% had normal psychological status, 27.5% were in borderline 15.5% showed evidence of psychological distress and 14.0% were experiencing severe psychological distress. Bivariate analysis between socio-demographic characteristics and psychosocial status showed gender, work overload, work hours in covid ward, exposure to false covid information and covid quarantine were significantly associated with psychological distress at p- value &lt; 0.05. Further important variables were run for multivariate analysis which revealed age (B=3.46, CI:1.45-8.23 and P=0.005), gender (B=3.20, CI: 1.61-6.37 and P=0.001) and work overload (B=9.63, CI: 4.32-21.49 and P=0.000) were found as significant predictors/determinants of psychological distress. Age greater than 24 years, female gender and higher work load were significantly associated with psychological distress.&#x0D; Conclusion: The psychological distress among the medical students due to covid 19 was in appalling situation. The study found age &gt;24 years, female gender and higher workload were the predictor of the psychological distress Integrated efforts from medical college, parents, peers and faculties are to be initiated to address the existing problems.

Persistence of SARS-CoV-2-antibodies against N, S and RBD after natural infection.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected most countries in the world. Monitoring the humoral immune responses during the natural course of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the duration of them provide useful information for the development of vaccination strategies against this virus and its emerging variants. The importance of the antibody response especially neutralizing antibodies in long-term immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is significant. The present study is a cross-sectional study of sero-epidemiological type that has been proposed to compare the persistence of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) against N (nucleocapsid), S (spike) and RBD (receptor-binding domain) proteins in the community after the time of primary disease. A total of 652 serum samples were collected from hospital staff working in COVID wards, as well as a number of community members with different occupations, among those with positive antibody titers, 86 participated in the resampling test before vaccination. There was no association between antibody titer and disease severity (p>0.05). A significant decrease in Ab levels was observed in the paired second samples. The highest rate of decrease was related to anti-N, then anti-RBD and anti-S IgG levels, respectively. There is a significant relationship between the initial antibody titer and its reduction over time (p-value <0.05). Our data revealed that humoral immunity following natural infection of SARS-CoV-2 is detectable for at least 4 months, regardless of disease severity. The most decrease in antibody titer over time was related to anti-N IgG levels.

Retinol Levels and Severity of Patients with COVID-19.

The new coronavirus infection represents a serious threat to global health and economies. In this sense, it is paramount to know the nutritional factors that may be related to the prognosis of the disease. Evidence shows that vitamin A may play an important preventive and therapeutic role in supporting respiratory infections as in COVID-19. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of vitamin A (retinol) status with the prognosis of the disease. A case-control study from a cohort study was conducted in Brazil between May and October 2020. The study population was chosen by convenience, consisting of participants diagnosed with COVID-19. Recruitment was carried out using different approaches, including through dissemination on social media and in four hospitals in the city of Natal/RN, Brazil, recruiting participants from the COVID-19 ward and hospitalized participants who tested positive for the disease. The participants were allocated into two groups according to severity, with a group of mild (n = 88) or critical (n = 106) patients and compared to a control group (selected before the pandemic, n = 46). The extraction of retinol serum was performed and analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC). The retinol level was calculated in mmol/L, and levels below 0.7 μmol/L (20 µg/dL) were considered to be a vitamin A deficiency. Our findings suggest that the participants with mild and critical COVID-19 had lower retinol levels compared to the healthy controls (p = 0.03). In addition, milder cases of COVID-19 were associated with increased symptoms and prolonged symptoms after 90 days since the beginning of infection. However, the survival analysis showed no association with higher cases of death among participants with vitamin A deficiency (p = 0.509). More studies are needed to understand how nutritional status, including vitamin A levels, can influence prognosis and is a risk factor for the development of long COVID syndrome.

Investigating the longitudinal impacts of frontline work on healthcare workers family functioning

Abstract Background At a time when many families were sheltering at home, frontline healthcare workers (FHWs) worldwide continued to work in the community, often under significant stress. While it has been well documented that frontline work during the COVID-19 pandemic has had impacts on healthcare workers’ mental and physical health, the impacts on their family functioning remain unclear. This study investigates the longitudinal impact of frontline work on family functioning amongst Australian healthcare workers. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian FHWs working in high-risk areas such as Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units, COVID wards, Hospital in the Home, and Aged Care. Interviews occurred across three timepoints (Dec 2020=39 participants, June 2021=34 participants, Jan 2022=31 participants). Transcripts from each timepoint were analysed separately using reflexive thematic analysis, then whole group comparisons were made between timepoints to identify changes and the nature of the changes. Results Flexibility and the need for constant adaptation were consistent themes across the three timepoints, as FHWs struggled to balance the demands of workplace changes alongside lockdown and COVID-19 related changes in their personal lives. In the early stages of the pandemic, families with pre-existing vulnerabilities reported significant challenges whereas others reflected on family resilience and growth. Two years on, even those families that articulated resilience and growth have observed declines associated with the persistent demands of their healthcare roles. Conclusions While healthcare organisations globally have made efforts to support their staff, these challenges observed by participants highlights the need for more targeted workplace and public health strategies within healthcare systems, particularly with respect to family support. Key messages • Healthcare workers have faced considerable challenges through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with declines in mental health and family functioning observed. • Beyond resilience and wellbeing interventions, healthcare workers need workplaces that acknowledge and support their family lives.

Managing the COVID-19 health crisis: a survey of Swiss hospital pharmacies

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare systems immensely as of 2020. Switzerland’s hospital pharmacies’ responses during the first wave were surveyed with a view to improving the quality of pharmaceutical management in future health crises.MethodsAn online survey was sent to the heads of all of Switzerland’s hospital pharmacies. The questionnaire was organised into eleven sections of questions covering many topics regarding the management of COVID-19’s first wave. Data collection occurred from May to June 2020.ResultsAnalyses were performed using the 43 questionnaires (66%), with at least one answer per questionnaire, out of 65 distributed. Seventeen of 41 pharmacies responding (41%) had existing standard operating procedures or pandemic plans and 95% of these (39/41) set up crisis management steering committees. Twenty-nine of 43 pharmacies responding (67%) created new activities to respond to the pandemic’s specific needs. Twenty-six of 39 pharmacies responding (67%) created new drug lists for: COVID-19-specific treatments (85%; 22/26), sedatives (81%; 21/26), anaesthetics (77%; 20/26) and antibiotics (73%; 19/26). Drug availability in designated COVID-19 wards was managed by increasing existing stocks (54%; 22/41 pharmacies) and creating extra storage space (51%; 21/41). Two drugs generated the greatest concern about shortages: propofol (49%; 19/39 pharmacies) and midazolam (44%; 17/39). Remdesivir stocks ran out in 26% of pharmacies (10/39). Twelve of 43 pharmacies (28%) drafted specific new documents to respond to medical needs regarding drug administration, 12 (28%) did so for drug preparation and 10 (23%) did so for treatment choices.ConclusionsSwitzerland’s hospital pharmacies encountered many challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis and had to find solutions quickly, effectively and safely. The survey highlighted the key role that hospital pharmacies played in many aspects of the pandemic by providing logistical and clinical support to medical and nursing care teams. The lessons and experiences outlined could be used to improve the quality of hospital pharmacies’ readiness for similar future events.

A Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge and Attitude Regarding COVID-19 Care among Staff Nurses Worked in COVID-19 Ward at a Selected Hospital in Tirunelveli District

A Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge and Attitude Regarding COVID-19 Care among Staff Nurses Worked in COVID-19 Ward at a Selected Hospital in Tirunelveli District

Caring for COVID-19 patients: Nurses' perceptions of the most critical issues and their impact on their well-being and performance.

(1) Exploring nurses' perceptions of issues that impacted the quality of patient care and their own performance on COVID-19 wards; (2) examining nurses' perceptions of how these issues impacted their psychological state and level of performance; and (3) presenting recommendations for improving healthcare policies. Nurses played a critical role in caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and managing the disease. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 50 nurses (32 females), aged 31-58 years, 6-37 years' tenure, from eight hospitals across Israel. Prior to working in COVID-19 wards, they worked in internal medicine, emergency rooms, or intensive care units. Based on the COREQ checklist, these interviews were recorded and transcribed, and categorized into themes and subthemes. The findings indicate that the unpreparedness of healthcare systems for the pandemic outbreak rendered nurses paying a high price at the personal and professional levels, which in turn may have impacted the levels of care that they provided. The rich, qualitative data source revealed important interactions between clinical, personal, social, and familial factors in determining distress levels and performance impairment. A nuanced understanding of the link between these stressors is key to developing and implementing policies that could mitigate deficiencies in the management of epidemics and pandemics in the future. Changes should be made to government directives and healthcare policies, with an emphasis on increasing the nursing workforce, providing emotional support, ensuring availability of equipment and beds, optimizing work practices, developing transparent means of communication within teams, and clearly defining the areas of responsibility of nurses-in times of routine and crises.

The relationship among burnout, perceived social support and cognitive factors affecting preventive behaviours of healthcare workers: The COVID-19 pandemic period

ABSTRACT Background Burnout and social support have been widely examined, but how these factors relate to preventive behaviours against COVID-19 has not yet been studied. This study investigated the relationship among burnout, perceived social support and cognitive factors affecting preventive behaviours of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the pandemic period. Methods A survey was conducted with 360 HCWs working in a large public hospital in Turkey during the pandemic. The survey included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and two subscales of the Affecting Factors on Preventive Behaviours of COVID-19 Scale, which is based on the Protection Motivation Theory. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, between-group comparison tests, and binary logistic regression. Results Of the HCWs, 38.1% reported high burnout, 20.3% inadequate social support, 51.4% low perceived self-efficacy, and 52.2% low protection motivation. Working in COVID-19 wards and having low perceived self-efficacy increased burnout (OR:1.96, 1.62; P < 0.050). Receiving adequate social support and higher protection motivation increased the perceived self-efficacy (OR:2.03, 4.92; P < 0.025). Lower education and higher perceived self-efficacy increased protection motivation (OR:2.32, 4.24; P < 0.025). Conclusion The results revealed that burnout, protection motivation, and perceived self-efficacy were significantly affected by some risk factors that policymakers should address.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-acquired infections at a comprehensive cancer center

Robust infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were deployed across health care institutions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased use of personal protective equipment, enhanced contact precautions, and an emphasis on hand hygiene. Here, we evaluate the effect of enhanced IPC practices on the occurrence of various hospital-associated infections (HAIs) in a comprehensive cancer center. From September 2016 through March 2022, we calculated the incidence rates (IRs) of HAIs for C. difficile infection, multidrug-resistant organisms, respiratory viral infections (RVIs), and device-related infections. We analyzed the incidence rate ratios for all HAIs during the periods before the pandemic, during the pandemic, atthe time of the surges, and in COVID-19-designated wards. When comparing the prepandemic to the pandemic period, the IR across all MRDOs was similar. We observed a decrease in the IR of central line-associated bloodstream infections and a stable IR of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. A significant decrease was observed in the IR of C. difficile infection. The total IR of nosocomial RVIs decreased, as did for each respiratory virus. A similar IR of nosocomial RVIs between COVID-19 community surge versus nonsurge periods was observed except for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza. multidrug resistant organisms were 5 times more likely to occur on the COVID-19 wards compared with the non-COVID-19 wards. Implementing strict IPC measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cancer hospital led to a significant decrease in many HAIs and a reduction in nosocomial RVIs.

Correlation of serum ferritin, LDH, CRP with chest findings- CT severity index in COVID-19 patients

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by a highly infectious virus primarily transmitted from person to person. The initial clinical manifestations of the condition are non-specific, characterized by the presence of fever and cough. These symptoms may resolve independently or escalate to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, and ultimately, mortality. Methods: The research was conducted at Moolchand Khairatiram Hospital in the COVID-19 wards and ICU in New Delhi. The blood samples were collected and then analyzed to evaluate the following parameters: C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, and LDH are the three biomarkers of interest. The statistical significance threshold was established at a p value of less than 0.05. Results: The study included 200 patients, 49% of whom were male and 51% of whom were female. A link was discovered between the outcome and the CT severity index. Patients who had a CT severity index of 21-25 died at the highest rate. The CT severity index and ferritin were found to have a significant relationship, with patients with elevated ferritin levels reporting the highest CT severity index scores. Conclusions: A statistically significant association was observed between the CT severity index and the outcome, with the highest mortality rate observed in patients who had a CT severity index of 21-25. The parameters above are crucial in assessing the condition and predicting the outcome of individuals afflicted with COVID-19.

Stress, Burnout, and General Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Poland during the Long-Lasting COVID-19 Pandemic.

Medical professions are characterized by a great responsibility for human health and life; they are also vulnerable to burnout. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges and threats. This study aimed to assess the mental health of healthcare workers after a year and a half of working in COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were utilized in this cross-sectional investigation. A total of 335 healthcare employees from Polish hospitals (median age 44 years) filled out online questionnaires between the 16 August 2021 and the 30 March 2022. Most of the sample was female (86%). In this study, 40.0% of the surveyed healthcare workers reported a high stress intensity. Burnout was reported by 9.6% of the workers, and the most frequently experienced symptom was psychophysical exhaustion. Almost half of the healthcare workers surveyed (49.6%) reported health disorders at both the mental and physiological levels. Interestingly, working in a COVID-19 ward did not significantly differentiate healthcare workers in any of the evaluated variables: PSS-10 (gr. A F = 1.21; gr. B F = 0.71; p > 0.05), LBQ (gr. A F = 1.89, F = 0.94, F = 1.08, F = 2.57; gr. B F = 0.32, F = 1.14, F = 0.77, F = 0.36; p > 0.05), and GHQ-28 (gr. A F = 0.85, F = 0.52, F = 0.57, F = 0.31; gr. B F = 0.31, F = 0.06, F = 0.06, F = 0.54; p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the compared occupational groups of healthcare workers: PSS-10 (F = 1.08; p > 0.05) and GHQ-28 (F = 1.78; F = 0.85; F = 0.62; F = 0.54; p > 0.05). The mental health of healthcare workers is alarming, and psychophysical conditions can affect the quality of work and relations with patients. Psychological care in workplaces and workshops that build resources for dealing with difficult situations are necessary.

Aynı tarihte aynı serviste bulunan Covid-19 yatan hastaları ile sağlık çalışanlarında anksiyetenin karşılaştırılması

Aim: Demonstrating which population has the highest anxiety symptoms and its predictors is important for the coordination of psychiatric care and services. Hospitalized patients with Covid-19 and healthcare professionals caring for them are the two groups with the highest risk of psychiatric disorders during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We aimed to assess the state and trait anxiety levels of Covid-19 patients and healthcare professionals simultaneously in the same Covid-19 ward of a tertiary center hospital.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Given the nature of this observational single-center study, purposive sampling of all patients and staff in the Covid-19 ward between 5-10 April 2020 was planned. The data was collected via an online survey using “Sociodemographic Form” and “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)”.&#x0D; Results: The state anxiety levels of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were significantly higher than healthcare workers in t-test (p = .012) however this was resolved in regression analysis (β = .029, t = .19, p = .85). Not being in a marital bond (p = .035) and having a lifetime psychiatric disorder (p = .002) were predictors of state anxiety; older age (p = .006), being female (p = .007) and having a lifetime psychiatric disorder (p = .002) were associated with trait anxiety scores in patients and healthcare workers in the Covid-19 ward.&#x0D; Conclusion: Having a lifetime psychiatric disorder was the common item for both state and trait anxiety of patients, doctors, and nurses in the Covid ward. Psychiatrists should be accessible in the Covid-19 ward primarily for individuals whom they evaluated or treated before the pandemic.

TO STUDY THE CLINICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF COVID-19 PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (UP TO 18 YEARS) IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN

Objective: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection has quickly developed into a global pandemic. According to the available evidence, children appear to be less likely to be afflicted and the condition may be less severe, but things could change. Rapid deterioration and enhancements in the physiologic state are a hallmark of the pediatric community. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim to study the demographic and clinical parameters of pediatric COVID patients. Methods: This hospital-based prospective and retrospective study was conducted during April 1st, 2020–July 2022 at the COVID ward and outpatient department, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. We included 276 children up to 18 years suffering from COVID-19 infection. We collected data of our study population from medical records and filled up the predesigned pro forma for admitted patients. Admitted children were classified as, per ICMR guidelines as: asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe variety. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS software. Results: Highest percentage of cases 48.39% in the age group 12–18 years, were followed by 31.45% in the 7–12-year-old age group. About 13.04% of patients were asymptomatic, whereas the remaining cases were symptomatic, with severity levels of mild 49.28%, moderate 26.81%, and severe 10.87%. Fever was the most prevalent symptom 69.2%, cough at 43.84%, throat ache 18.12%, breathing difficulties 15.22%, headache 2.54%. Conclusion: In the present study, we concluded that during the third wave of the pandemic, most children had symptomatic illnesses, but recovery was fast among non-hospitalized children. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children was more common in elderly children.